The Real News

The Real News is a member-supported English language global online video news network. Launched in 2007 by Paul Jay, a former producer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation it states it is "focused on providing independent and uncompromising journalism", on "the critical issues of our times".

The Real News relies on supporters' donations, and does not accept funding from advertising, government or corporations. It also receives funding from grants and funds.

The Real News uses internet broadcasting, but it has contracts with satellite and cable television channels which it intends to use for broadcast once it reaches its first sustainability goal of 50,000 supporters. The Real News has bureaus in Washington D.C., and Toronto.

Stated goals

The stated goal of The Real News is to provide "independent and uncompromising" verifiable worldwide coverage of "the critical issues of our times". They aim to avoid what they consider to be pitfalls of mainstream journalism, such as a disproportionate focus on people in high office and reliance on official press releases or wire services to frame debate. Their editorial policies in practice result in focus on issues affecting less powerful people, children, indigenous people, immigrants, women, and laborers. Human rights and environmental issues, topics on religious freedom and freedom of conscience, movements for moral and spiritual values, against war, and against racism usually get daily coverage.

While covering people in high office, The Real News attempts to seek the facts that they feel matter and not limit themselves to reporting what they believe their interlocutors want audiences to hear. In this way, and by bringing in well-informed guests, they hope to trigger debate which covers many aspects of an issue, avoids personal attacks and partisan rhetoric without substance. The Real News also operates forums where their work can be debated and criticized, purportedly to remain aware of their own biases.

The Real News relies exclusively on supporters' donations, and does not accept funding from advertising, government or corporations.

History

On August 10, 2008 The Real News was featured on PBS Foreign Exchange, where host Daljit Dhaliwal interviewed The Real News senior editor Paul Jay.

Staff

The Real News journalist committee includes Lewis H. Lapham, Gore Vidal, Amy Goodman, Naomi Klein, and Howard Zinn. The most regular political analysts are Aijaz Ahmad, Pepe Escobar and Eric Margolis. The Real News features experienced professional journalists from all over the world. It is planning to host reports from volunteer-based citizen journalism in a dedicated portion of the network's website.

Analysts and correspondents:

* Host and senior editor: Paul Jay.
* Main journalists: Jesse Freeston covers a wide range of topics but specializes in Latin America and resource exploitation. Lia Tarachansky covers Israel and Palestine from the region, and Ania Smolenskaia covers U.S. domestic policy and the health care debate.
* Global senior analysts: Pepe Escobar, Aijaz Ahmad, Minqi Li, and Forrest Hylton
* Other guests: David Harvey, Naomi Klein, Phyllis Bennis, Eric Margolis, Michael Ratner, Gideon Levy, Helen Thomas.

Technical staff:

* Mishuk Munier - Director of News Operations
* Hezvo Mpunga - IT and Website Development
* Taruna Godric - Communications and Volunteer Coordinator
* Elena Perova - Executive Assistant

Other staff:

* Sharmini Peries - Executive Director

Content

The Real News also frequently hosts content by the American News Project, Al Jazeera English, and SleptOn Magazine

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